I really hate posting things like this but I want to make sure a member does not get caught up in an issue.

I have my fathers Walther PPK/S. It’s not particularly special, it’s complete with all paperwork and box etc. but he loved bond and its special to me. We lost him three years ago.

The other day I decided to have it threaded and put an Odessa on it. He would have LOVED that and I figured what the hell.

For some reason. I thought Tornado Tech was the Best when it came to this.

I paid them and brought this pistol over to my FFL. My FFL (great guys) wanted to make contact, even if I had paid and had all the proper paperwork to send it out. They saved the gun.

3 days of trying to get tornado on the phone, and I did some digging.

Their Facebook page indicates BIG issues with contact and with people getting their stuff back.

Had I shipped this out, I might never have see this gun again, I would have been very upset.

FYI to you all. I disputed the charge and found someone else to do the work.

If someone here knows the owner or is affiliated. Please respond but this has been my experience.

How'd you initially make contact?

And it's a good thing your FFL saved you.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
How'd you initially make contact?

And it's a good thing your FFL saved you.

I googled them. Found service I wanted. Paid online.

Printed all the docs out.

And yes. Indeed.

Glad for this thread, not your experience.
Was contemplating sending them my M9A1 barrel to them.

Yeah, this is a good reminder that Google sometimes is not your friend.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
Yeah, this is a good reminder that Google sometimes is not your friend.

Pretty sure Tornado Technologies has been touted here as the best when it comes to Beretta 92 barrel threading.
As I am almost positive that is why I went looking for them just last week.

quote:

Originally posted by leonidas211:
Their Facebook page indicates BIG issues with contact and with people getting their stuff back.

Wow, just read a bunch of comments from customers. What a shitshow.

Some have actually hired private investigators to personally get their stuff back. Amazing.

Thanks for sharing your experience and I am glad it worked out for you. I was going to use them years ago to thread my Beretta 21A but found a local guy who did it. Of course, now Beretta offers the threaded one from the factory.

I haven't had much luck with sending firearms off for work.

I had an experience with a well known gunsmith when I sent an ugly duckling in to be made into a swan. It was quoted as a 3 month turn-around and $2200 for the work. It ended up being 12 months and they tried to charge me $3600! After some discussions, I was able to get my piece back at the original quotes price. Sadly, that experience has turned me off from sending firearms off for custom work. The part that was frustrating was the lack of communication from the gunsmith. I checked in every three months (so I wasn't a PIA calling twice a week) to try to find out what was going on and was told they were just about to start my project each time I called. Then they tried running my card without telling me the price change. Thankfully the card blocked the transaction as suspicious activity. Most folks who take 4 times as ling don't try to charge you 50% more for the work without talking to you!

Another experience I had was sending a J-frame cylinder off to be machined for moon clips. When I got it back, it was machined off-center and wouldn't accept the moon clip with rounds attached. I had to send it back and the remachined it, but now the recess is out of round, but at least it works for its intended purpose. Like my experience above, this was a well-known shop known for this type of work.

Maybe I am just unlucky...

This message has been edited. Last edited by: wacopolumbo,

Used them several years ago to thread a P250 barrel in .22lr. No issue then and was impressed with their work, seems things have changed.

Glad to hear you didn't get thrown in the mix with your gun getting lost to them. That would be disheartening.